Management plan for the nature reserve “Pededzes lejtece” in the process of elaboration On August 8th, a meeting of supervisory group that is working on elaboration of management plan for the nature reserve “Pededzes lejtece” (lower reaches of the Pededze) was held in Stradi parish.  | | Pededze lower reaches | Management plan for the nature reserve “Pededzes lejtece” in the process of elaboration On August 8th, a meeting of supervisory group that is working on elaboration of management plan for the nature reserve “Pededzes lejtece” (lower reaches of the Pededze) was held in Stradi parish. “We started to work on this plan in spring. This is a discussion of its first wording so that we can finish the plan on September or October. Although separate coordination measures in the Ministry of Environment can last longer, we will finish the plan completely this year,” informed Anna Vîgante, the Chairwoman of Stradi parish. She also told that in the northern part of the Pededze lower reaches such protected nature values as rare and protected plants, lichens, mushrooms and moss, as well as bird and water and terrestrial invertebrate species have been found, therefore elaboration of the conservation plan is crucial. At present several managerial and organizational measures should be carried out, for example, the number of border signs of protected nature areas must be increased, because now their quantity is insufficient, also big information panels should be placed etc. An administration board should also be created for management of the nature reserve. At the moment two versions have been offered for the administration type - a separate administration and a joint board. In this peculiar case the second version would be the most appropriate, because the protected nature area is located in three regions - Gulbene, Balvi, Madona - and in four parishes - Stradi, Dauksti, Rugâji and Indrâni. A.Vîgante explained that lot of economic activity is forbidden in the nature reserve, for example, caring of forest stands must be discontinued if the average age of dominant trees are more than 60 years for pine-trees, 50 years for spruce-trees, birches and black alders and 30 years for aspens. Timber felling in these territories is allowed from September 1 to April 30. It is forbidden to burn last year’s grass in meadows of the lower reaches of rivers. In addition, hunters have to observe many conditions. In the protected nature area fowling is forbidden and it is not allowed to make hunting towers in oak-trees etc. But really important is to support human activities, which are linked to sustainable management of natural grasslands. Members of the supervisory group admitted that till now no suggestions were made about establishing of a nature trail in the nature reserve. There was a discussion, whether at the riverside of the Pededze special places for water-tourists should be made. The priority will be the restoration of the Pededze onflow. There were negotiations about the deer park in the “Meţsçtas”, explaining what will happen if the density of deers will increase, because it will be connected with the expansion of the territory of the deer park and other issues. Malda Ilgaţa, reportier from regional newspaper "Dzirkstele"  
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